Vermont’s [1] highest peak, Mount Mansfield is a tough slog; but the panoramic view of three states is well worth it. The trailhead starts north of Stowe [2] on Route 108, and climbs four miles up steep terrain to the peak. Save some energy for the last third of a mile, “the Chin.” (The parts of the mountain are named for the parts of a reclining person’s profile, which it resembles.) The near-vertical slope is the toughest part of the climb—and is even more treacherous on the descent.
A longer but slightly easier climb to the summit approaches from the west along the six-mile Sunset Ridge Trail. To get a bird’s-eye view of Mount Mansfield itself, take the trail up to the The Pinnacle, the 2,740-foot peak on the east side of town. The trail rises gradually from Stowe Hollow for about a mile and a half, with a short rocky scramble at the top.
For more information on these and other climbs, contact the Green Mountain Club (802/244-7037, www.greenmountainclub.org [3]) or pick up a copy of the Long Trail Guide.
The impossibly quaint scenery of the Lamoille Valley makes it a favorite for cyclists. You can rent your steed at AJ’s Ski and Sports (350 Mountain Rd., Stowe, 800/226-6257, www.ajsportinggoods.com [4]) and pedal up to Morristown yourself. Or leave the arrangements to the reassuringly named Peace of Mind Guaranteed Bike Tours (888/635-2453, www.pomgbike.com [5]), which offers two-day bike tours starting from the Smugglers Notch Inn in Jeffersonville.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/new-england/vermont
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/new-england/vermont/northeast-vermont/north-central-vermont/stowe
[3] http://www.greenmountainclub.org
[4] http://www.ajsportinggoods.com
[5] http://www.pomgbike.com